NRL Late Mail Round 13: Predicted team changes for upcoming round

The future of a Raiders legend is up in the air after he was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Jarrod Croker’s NRL career has been placed in doubt by a shoulder injury after the Canberra veteran was ruled out for the rest of the year.

In a cruel blow for the former Raiders captain, who only returned from a career threatening knee injury in round nine, Croker will now be sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Croker injured his shoulder in the round nine clash against the Bulldogs and will require season-ending surgery.

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With just a year left on his deal, Croker’s latest injury could force the veteran centre to reconsider his future.

The one-club legend, who is just eight games away from playing his 300th NRL match for the Raiders, had only just returned to the NRL after fighting his way back from a knee injury that required radical stem cell therapy.

Jarrod Croker will miss the rest of the NRL season. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

STAR ROOSTER RULED OUT

-Michael Carayannis

Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will miss the Roosters’ clash against the Raiders on Sunday.

Waerea-Hargreaves has a hamstring complaint and adds to the list of Roosters already missing due to Origin, including James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Linsday Collins.

Fletcher Baker has been named to start at prop, while Daniel Suluka-Fifita moves onto the bench.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out for the Roosters. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

ROUND 13 TEAMS

RAIDERS v ROOSTERS

Sunday, 4.05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders: 1. Xavier Savage, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Matt Frawley, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Corey Horsburgh, 9. Zac Woolford, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Ryan Sutton, 17. Trey Mooney, 18. James Schiller

Reserves: 19. Harry Rushton, 21. Brad Schneider

Players cut: 16. Corey Harawira-Naera, 20. Adrian Trevilyan, 22. Emre Guler

Late mail: Corey Harawira-Naera has dropped off the bench. His spot has been taken by James Schiller. Rookie Trey Mooney will make his debut off the bench after impressing in NSW Cup this season. Ricky Stuart opted for hooker Zac Woolford to play a lengthy stint on field against Parramatta last week, with Tom Starling playing just 24 minutes. Whether this continues remains to be seen. Jamal Fogarty will continue with the goal-kicking duties having made a successful return from injury last week.

Roosters: 1. Joey Manu, 2. Billy Smith, 3. Paul Momirovski, 4. Kevin Naiqama, 5. Joseph Suaalii, 6. Sam Walker, 7. Luke Keary, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 9. Drew Hutchison, 15. Fletcher Baker, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Nat Butcher

Bench: 14. Connor Watson, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Terrell May, 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Reserves: 18. Lachlan Lam, 21. Tom Carr

Players cut: 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 20. Adam Keighran, 22. Ben Marschke

Late mail: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out with a hamstring injury. Fletcher Baker will start at prop while Daniel Suluka-Fifita has been added to the bench. Billy Smith is likely to start at centre, with Kevin Naiqama shifting to the wing. Trent Robinson opted to use Drew Hutchinson in a big minute hooking role in Round 12, with Connor Watson coming on in a more favoured lock role.